3rd - 12th

www.nairobidesignweek.com | #NDW2016
THINKPLACE
DESIGN MATATU
NDW Pre - Launch

3th 01:30 PM - 11:30PM

J`s Bar
Muthangari Dr

DESIGN CHILLOUT

4th 6:00 PM - LATE

DESIGN MARKET

12th 10:00 AM - 7PM

Creatives Garage
Kirichwa Rd

NOVEMBER 2016
 NDW Map

NDW FORUM

11th 10AM - 5PM MATHARE

POLYTECHNIC
PAWA254
2nd flr Africa Alliance WORKSHOP
State House Crescent

9th 1:30PM - 5PM

10th 10AM - 7PM

Undugu School
Mathare

FIND
YOUR
#TUJENGENASOLAR
EVENT
5th 2PM - 6PM

Undugu Field
Kibera
 CHARGE
USB mobile charging
and a super bright
lamp.

BOOM
USB mobile charging
FM radio/MP3
MicroSD and Lamp

HOME 120
3 lamps and USB
mobile charging

www.greenlightplanet.com
 MUGENDI
M`RITHAA
President - World Design Organisation
Industrial designer, educator and researcher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Curator for Design Indaba

Mugendi will be introducing NDW2016 at the NDW Launch.

FOREWORD
I t is indeed my privilege and pleasure to
welcome you to Nairobi Design Week
(NDW) 2016. With design’s influence rapidly
increasing across the continent and in other
majority world contexts, such a platform
is important for the continued growth and
development of the world’s economies.

A s the preeminent design week in East

Africa, it is the role of NDW to nurture
the incredible network that it is continually
building and continues connecting all corners
of the industry.

By focusing on Kenyan artisans and the

uniqueness of our informal (jua kali) industry,
NDW2016 puts them on centre stage for all
the world to see. This year will expose many
people to novel ways of designing, creating,
producing and doing business. It is important
for Africans to learn from the rest of the
world whilst remembering what they bring to
the global arena of creativity.

6 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

CONTENTS
08 Introduction 45 Design Thinkers
Team`s View 50 Sponsors & Partners
10 Theme 52 Artisan
Artisans Past
12 Events Present
Mathare workshop Future
Design Matatu 56 Design Directory
Design Chillout
Tujenge Solar
NDW Forum
Design Market
30 Features
Crafted 3 Ways
Artisan and Fox
Sun King
DMU
Photography by Humprey Gateri
Gadget Watch

MADE IN AFRICA 7
Team view

Adrian
Jankowiak
Director

We’re back, it’s only year two and we’re absolutely

loving where Nairobi Design Week is headed.
2016 has been a year of evolution and growth in
all the right areas. With our debut behind us, we
took feedback from many partners, guests and
participants on what it means to be part of NDW
and what it should mean. With a tighter focus and
better understanding, in 2017, the Design Directory
willbe accompanied by the all new Artisan Listing.
Both of these will be permanent features, online
OUR THEME THIS YEAR REFLECTS THE
and in print, giving people around the world better,
BELIEF WE HAVE IN LOCAL DESIGN AND
direct access to African design.
MANUFACTURING
In 2017 we’ll be centered around expanding our
membership base and improving the ways in which
we provide exposure. We’re building a community
and we want you to be a part of it!

Micheal
Bagorogoza
Brand Manager

This year we have worked hard to revamp our

brand identity, aiming to portray the opportunities
that lay between traditional craft and the modern
design world. It communicates the hard work,
culture and voice of artisans and how their impact
Kenya’s design community.

The NDW 2016 guide is designed to give you an

insight into the exciting, fun and informative
experiences that are being hosted throughout OUR BRAND IDENTITY PORTRAYS THE
the week. It’s also a handy reference for all your WORK AND CULTURE OF THE ARTISANS
upcoming design needs in 2017, making it as
easy as possible to connect with Nairobi’s design
community. Take a look through and don’t be shy!

8 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

HEADLINE
WATCH
A big woop for the artisan theme this year with

Nairobi County to market local Artisans

globally Standard Media.
Nairobi County government is set to launch a programme that will market local
Artisans to become global entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to Matwana who recently got featured on CNN.

Matatu culture: Documenting Nairobi’s

‘museums on wheels’ CNN
The article explores the matatu culture giving Wanyamas’ perspectives.

A sigh of relief for Moringa school and all ICT practitioners who were in uproar 3
months ago for the headline:

ICT Practitioner’s Bill To Destroy Innovation

in Kenya. Moringa school blog.
A month later the bill was denounced.
Visit our website at nairobidesiwgnweek.com for updates
MADE IN AFRICA 9
NAIROBI
DESIGN
WEEK
2016
ARTISANS
N airobi hosts an eclectic community
of artisans and craft workers. Last
year’s NDW opened this topic with a
styles and production methods available,
with many becoming a product of their
environment. One person’s waste is
video series on artisans (locally know as another’s opportunity to be grabbed.
jua kali workers) from Kenya’s largest
informal settlement, Kibera. This year we Earlier this year Anne Lokidor, the
are aiming to connect artisans to a wider Nairobi County executive for Education,
market and give their work even more Youth and Social Service, announced
exposure. that the county will promote artisans’
skills and their products to make them

T ranslated to hot sun, the name jua kali

can be considered a brief history on
how the community came about. Mostly
men tinkering in the hot sun making
just about anything useful, at ‘affordable
prices’. This time around we’ll show that
Jua Kali and artisanry have developed as a
perfect accompaniment to today’s design
culture, with handmade craftmanship
experiencing a global renaissance. Today’s
artisans have expanded on the products,
recognised internationally. Ms Lokidor
said that in the 2016/2017 financial
year, the County government will engage
local artisans to participate in product
exhibitions that will enhance ease of
accesses to global markets.and address
unemployment problems facing Kenyan
youth by promoting artisan talents and
increase their economic capacity.
We can’t wait to see what’s next.
EVENTS
T he word matatu combines Swahili words
‘my’ and ‘three’, having originated
from 1960s Kenyan slang for the original
price of a ride, 30 Ksh. Matatus are widely
known as the most common form of public
transportation here in Kenya. Playing host
to some of Kenya’s best public art (including
portraits and famous quotes), matatus are
also one of the most iconic pieces of Kenya’s
modern culture - they’re vibrant, colorful
and widely understood to be a menace on the
roads. Usually heard before they are seen,
most matatus have powerful sound systems
and overhead lights inside the bus that lend
customers an incredibly unique, if risky,
travel experience. Despite the vibrancy and
cultural resonance that matatus have, many
organisations have characterized matatus as a
major threat to road safety. Many have tried
14 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
and failed to address the challenges associated
with this form of travel. In short, matatus
represent a travel experience that stands to be
improved, enhanced, and transformed
On November, 3rd 2016, ThinkPlace
Kenya is organizing the Design Matatu
Experience to do just that.
The Design Matatu Experience is a completely
immersive, and intensive creative experience
that empowers the everyday person to redesign
their travel experience. 30 participants from
diverse backgrounds, working for NGOS,
public and private companies, will be invited
to take a ride in the ThinkPlace Design Matatu
and collaboratively tackle a design challenge.
In short, the participants will be faced with
the following challenge:
 THINKPLACE

DESIGN
MATATU
NDW PRE LAUNCH
J`S FRESH BAR AND RESTAURANT
3rd Nov 2016 | 1:30pm - 12am

How can we improve the experience of

riding in a matatu?

How can matatus be safer and become

an asset rather than a risk?

Our goal for the day is to conduct research on

people’s lived experiences on matatus, and

INTENT, EXPLORE,
use our findings to identify a working solution
that can be prototyped and tested with users.
In order to do this, participants will apply

INNOVATE & TEST,

ThinkPlace’s iterative design methodology.
This framework is what ThinkPlace uses in
projects everyday to help simplify complex

EVALUATE AND
problems, discover latent needs, and learn
through making & doing.Traveling through
the streets of Kilimani, the matatu will

FORMULATE.
stop at key points of interest with each stop
representing a stage in the design process:
Intent, Explore, Innovate & Test, Evaluate
and Formulate.

MADE IN AFRICA 15
 ALL ABOARD
THE DESIGN
STOP 1 : INTENT
MATATU
Participants will define the purpose
of the strategic question: they
define the scope, outline shared
goals, reframe the problem and ask
focusing questions.

STOP 2 : EXPLORE
They will research and discover the
human experience of the problem, STOP 3 :
approaching users on the street or at INNOVATE & TEST
nearby stages to ask what works and
This phase will help participants
what needs to change. Participants
generate and rapidly prototype new
will learn that the most important
ideas. Every idea will be prototyped
insights are often latent - things that
(using basic materials), tested with
people want or need but
users and refined to reflect the
don’t always tell.
feedback.

STOP 4: FORMULATE
During the final stage they will create
a proposition that describes the future
state and how to achieve it. They’ll
recommend a set of actions to address
the core challenge.

16 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

This atypical experience
powerfully illustrates that EVENT DETAILS:
design can be done anywhere:
in an office, at work or even
on a matatu. The process is The THINKPLACE DESIGN MATATU will be
iterative and non-linear: while operating on the 3rd of November 2016
this can sometimes appear
messy, by being flexible from 1:30pm. The participants’ final stop
participants manage to design will be the NDW Pre-Launch, hosted by
solutions that are sustainable. Thinkplace.
Most importantly, this
experience will help
participants build deep The NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK PRE-LAUNCH
empathy with the everyday will be held on the 3rd of November, 2016
users of matatus to ensure from 5:30-8pm at J’s Westlands, Corner
they deliver a design that
meets real and demonstrated of Muthangari Rd and Waiyaki Way,
needs -- the critical first step Westlands.
in any human-centered design

Find out more about ThinkPlace kenya on our online

Design directory at www.nairobidesignweek.com

MADE IN AFRICA 17
C reatives’ Garage is a broad-spectrum
movement for creatives to network, share ideas,
collaborate, learn, gain market accessibility and
push boundaries.

A dream to create a space where creatives from

all walks of life can come together to network,
collaborate and push the boundaries of the creative
scene. 3 years later, the dream continues to solidify,
partnering with approximately 7,000 (and growing)
Creatives who they guide into turning their craft
into a source of livelihood.

Creatives’ Garage enables creatives to earn

livelihoods with simplicity. After three years of
building cultural networks, engaging in cultural
activism and seeking out social innovation, they
are now focusing on gaining access to markets for
creatives.

DESIGN CHILLOUT EVERY GUEST

WILL RECEIVE A
NDW2016 will launch with a special edition of the
popular Friday Chillout. We are excited to host
Mugendi M’Rithaa, the president of the World
SUN KING PICO
Design Organisation, who will take the stage to
introduces this year’s festival. He will be joined by
SOLAR LAMP ON
speakers from Aurecon, Sun King and NDW. ENTRY.
Join us for this special sundowner, lit by Sun King
lamps throughout and get introduced to Nairobi’s
design scene. Enjoy an evening with your favorite
designers, interact with like-minded creatives and
meet visitors from across the globe.

18 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 NDW
LAUNCH
Creatives` Garage
4th Nov 2016 | 6pm - 12am

PRODUCERS +
DISTRIBUTORS= CG MARKET ACCESS

MADE IN AFRICA 19
KOUNKUEY DESIGN INITIATIVE

TUJENGE
NA SOLAR
Undugu Field - Kibera
5th Nov 2016 | 2pm - 6pm

#TUJENGENAKIBERA
RETURNS THIS YEAR
K
D
I

FOR A SPECIAL EDITION,

FEATURING MORE STORIES
OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN
THE COMMUNITY.
K ounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a non-
profit design and community development
organization, that physically transforms
‘underserved’ communities by partnering with
them to, improve environmental, economic, and
social quality of life. One of their areas of reach is
in Kenya’s largest informal settlement, Kibera.
Their project here is called #TujengeKibera,
translating to ‘Let’s build Kibera’. It is an
online social media campaign and competition
initiated by KDI. Over the years there have

20 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 Events

SUN KING + KDI =

#TUJENGENASOLAR
been many stories written about Kibera and its This year, Sun King will join KDI in hosting
residents often portraying the settlement in a the event. In the solar tent they’ll be sharing
negative light; but KDI’s experience working success stories of customers from around
with the communities tells another story. It is the world, promoting access to solar energy
aimed at highlighting stories of positive change through their EasyBuy technology and
in Kibera, shifting perceptions,and investing product range.
in initiatives with potential in the settlement.
These are stories about residents who take
responsibility for their environment and try to
be the change they want to see, building and
operating projects that positively impact their
communities. Stories of people with mentorship
programs for children through arts and sports.
Stories geared at changing the narrative. Stories
of entrepreneurs and artisans.

# TujengeKibera launched in 2015 with a fun-

filled day and a call to action encouraging
Kibera residents to get involved and contribute
their stories to the campaign, culminating in
a competition. Residents sent in their own
proposals for transforming the community and
the winner announced in March this year, won
a 100,000 Ksh cash prize and investment in
their project.

MADE IN AFRICA 21
DESIGN
THINKING
WORKSHOPS
UNDUGU SCHOOL, MATHARE
9th / 10th Nov 2016 | 1pm - 5:30pm
‘Slums’ have become a byword for subtle but serious human
rights violations. On a daily basis thei inhabitants are unable
to exercise and receive basic human rights such as: health-
care; housing; sanitation; clean water; legal information
and legal representation.
Together, KnownAfrique and SlumFighters
spread knowledge and understanding
KNOWNAFRIQUE AND in order to fight injustice, corruption
SLUMFIGHTERS WANT TO and poverty. As a flagship project, both
KnownAfrique and SlumFighters will
DELIVER ACCESS TO THESE support the Mathare community to set the
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. agenda for upcoming changes.
They will start by focusing on the unfolding

HOW?
K nownAfrique is a Law Social Enterprise
with a vision of making the law known by
solving social problems through legal solutions.
KnownAfrique sets out to promote easy access
to the law by linking Law, Technology and
Design.

SlumFighters develops, implements and

transmits a method to transform informal
settlements, together with all stakeholders so
that citizens obtain a sustainable and humane
life.
 design legal content and avail a Lawkit
tailor made for Undugu School.

GOALS:
Empower the Mathare community by
assisting in effective utilisation of the
school grounds.

Plan for the sustainable use of the Mathare

case of the Undugu School (formerly Mathare
Undugu community school.
Polytechnic), also working together with
community organizer Gibson Maina and Undugu
Engage county municipality in combined
principal Mary Moi to make plans with and for
bottom-up & top-down development.
the community. They will conduct research, share
expertise and hold meetings and human centered
Embrace the complexity of human and
design workshops. Here they will demonstrate the
urban life, including all relevant aspects
way they empower communities legally, spatially
ranging from social and economic, to legal
and socio-economically. Based on the human
centered design process, KnownAfrique will and spatial.

EVENT DETAILS:
Th DESIGN THINKING WORKSHOP will
be operating on the 9th and 10th of
November 2016 from 1:30pm to 5:30 pm
at UNDUGU SCHOOL (formerly Mathare
Polytech Kingdom Hall Mathare).

MADE IN AFRICA 23
NDW
FORUM
Pawa 254
11th Nov 2016 | 10am - 5pm
O ften seen as a key component of the design
thinking process , human centered design
(HCD) lets designers investigate social issues,
engage users, and prototype solutions to
problems that seem out of reach. As it’s name
suggests, HCD focuses on people, helping
designers gain empathy, understanding and
in depth knowledge of key stakeholders via
interviews, observation, and immersion.
HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
IS A CREATIVE APPROACH
TO PROBLEM SOLVING. will explore learnings from projects in an
IDEO.org
HCD is in high demand throughout East
Africa and is being applied to tackle broad
and complex such as health care, sanitation,
education and even product advertising.
24 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
Turning design thinking into a formal, codified
process has given it global recognition and
encouraged more organisations to incorporate
it into their strategies. In their search for
quick business results and armed with a lack
of design’s nuances, many have cut corners in
their approach, diluting the process to a state
that has some leading thinkers in the industry
asking “What’s next?”.
T he NDW Forum gathers several of East
Africa’s preeminent design thinkers for
an opportunity to discuss the state of design
thinking, its future and how we can learn from
its successes and failures. The discussion
African context as well as further afield. In
Nairobi, Think Place are strengthening public
systems through more effective, efficient
and high-integrity service delivery in fields
such as education, social protection and
energy generation. Their work to increase
financial inclusion focuses on mobile money,
micro-loans & savings, micro-insurance and
FORUM TOPIC
WHAT’S NEXT FOR
DESIGN
THINKING?
agricultural finance innovation. Through
their iterative design methodology, they use
design thinking as a base to frame and solve
complex problems. Also based in Nairobi, IF
Ventures focuses on developing projects at the
intersection of social responsibility and billion
dollar growth opportunities. They co-create
new businesses with clients by managing
the design build process in key test markets.
This has led them to develop an evolution of
HCD that they call Design for Implementation
(DFI), focused on integrating design as a
problem solving methodology into the wider
business creation process.
In Uganda, Design Without Borders have
worked with UNICEF in setting up a mobile
phone-based birth and family registration
system, a national child help line, and an SMS-
based information and reminder system for
pregnant women and young mothers. U-report
is an SMS-based crowd sourcing system where
young people from every district in Uganda
report on issues in their communities, such as
the presence of school teachers in classrooms,
drug theft, impersonation, and abuse. At the
time of writing over 120,000 young people
are enrolled. Their approach to HCD has
allowed them to adapt and modify the process
across countless industries.
The team at Sun King knows a thing or
two about the value of understanding their
customers. Having built a rural distribution
network across 54 countries, it’s no surprise
Patrick Walsh, the CEO still carries out
regular field research trips. Celebrating
the sale of their 6 millionth light, they’ll be
sharing some of the stories and challenges
they’ve encountered on their journey.
N DW Forum will discuss the future of
design thinking. Speakers will give stories
from their own experiences of successes and
failures, analysing how we might navigate
design’s next evolution and where it will take
us.
MADE IN AFRICA 25
DESIGN
MARKET
Creatives` Garage
12th Nov 2016 | 10am - 7pm
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VI` ENLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VI` ENLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VI` ENLE

26 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

FURNITURE, JEWELLERY,
3D PRINTING, SOLAR
LAMPS AND EVEN
MOTORBIKES WILL BE
ON SHOW.

A s one of Nairobi’s most creative multi-disciplinary

spaces, Creatives’ Garage will host its second
NDW2016 event on Saturday 12th November, inviting the
public to browse, discover, ask questions and shop.

T his market isn’t all about selling. It’s about raising

awareness of design’s breadth and elevating it in
the public’s eye. be for Nairobi’s creatives to share
ideas, collaborate, learn, and gain access to market
opportunities,this will provide an opportunity for artisans
and exhibitors from a wide range of disciplines to showcase
their products and services to the general public. With
the mix of exhibitors on offer, it will be an educational,
interactive and friendly atmosphere. The event hosts a
dynamic and unique selection of design thinkers and crafts.

E xhibitors will include design organisations and

artisans from across the industry. Visitors will have
the opportunity to pick through local, high quality design
objects and interact with Nairobi’s vibrant creative scene.

MADE IN AFRICA 27
FEATURES
E verything created from the hands of an artisan
tells a story, and Artisan and Fox is on a mission
to share these beautiful stories with the world.

We’re discovering and providing hidden makers

access to the international markets. Currently
Artisan and Fox works on the ground and
collaborates with local community groups in Nepal,
Bangladesh the Philippines and Kenya. Through our
monthly subscription box, consumers can discover
quality and authentic artisanal products, and go on a
vicarious journey to the mountains of Nepal, or the
pristine beaches of Philippines.

Their mission is simple: to provide economic

opportunities to underprivileged artisans by
bringing local micro-enterprises and community
WE ARE LAUNCHING OUR
groups online, and to share the human story behind CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN
each product. What makes us unique is our 50/50
promise. We literally share 50% of our profits FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION BOXES
with our artisan partners. This is in line with our IN FEBRUARY 2017, WHERE
YOU’LL BE ABLE TO FIND WORK
commitment to the ethical production of crafts,
and fostering sustainable livelihoods for our artisan
partners. BY NDW ARTISANS
32 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
ARTISAN &
FOX
ARTISAN AND FOX IS A SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE WORKING TO BRING
ARTISAN MICRO-ENTERPRISES
ONLINE THROUGH ITS MONTHLY
SUBSCRIPTION BOX.

MADE IN AFRICA 33

VICTORIOUS BONE CRAFT
Bone and Horn
F ounded in 2006 by Jack Nyawanga and
two other skilled craftsmen from Kibera,
Victorious Bone Craft utilizes bones and horns
from butcheries and slaughterhouses to make
beautiful handcrafted products. These include
necklaces, earrings, key holders, spoons and
hair clippers, which are sold in both local and
international markets. In a bid to make the
youth more independent, Victorious Bone
Craft offers training to men and women from
across Kibera. Thereafter, the trainees are
free to establish their own workshops and
bring their products to market. Victorious
Bone Craft is environmentally conscious,
ensuring that their trainees are made aware of
responsible dumping mechanisms. The group
hopes to increase their production capacity
through training more youth to join their
workforce.
34 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
BARAKA MENZA Tyres
Baraka Menza is a young, enthusiastic
social entrepreneur from Kibera, who saw
an opportunity to transform dumped tyres
into unique sandals. After Baraka completed
college in 1998, he was unable to secure
employment.
He got into this business after he had learned,
for two years, how to make sandals from tyres
and spent another year refining production.
Finally in 2002, Baraka started his own
business. He creates the sandal designs
himself, and also takes custom orders. In
the beginning, it was difficult to for him to
find a space to operate, as well as to source
other supplies. Since then however, Baraka
has been able to employ three more people
who help in production on a permanent basis.
When he is on a strict deadline, Baraka hires
more workers on a temporary basis. Despite
the fact that he has the capacity to produce in
bulk, He has always faced a challenge when
 CRAFTED
3 WAYS
BONE AND HORN | TYRES | BRASS
it comes to finding a consistent larger market for
his products.
Baraka touts his family as his biggest source of
inspiration. Through referrals from friends and
his established local networks, Baraka has been
able to sell his sandals throughout the community.
MOSES OJOWI Brass
K ibera-based artisan Moses Ojowi makes
brass products from scrap metal and other
recyclable materials, sourced locally from the
Kenyan community. Prior to starting his own
business in 2008, Moses was employed in a
company that also made brass products.
He decided to start his own business because he
was really enthusiastic about learning more, and
further developing the skills he had acquired.
Moses chooses to source his materials locally
because he believes it boosts the local economy
and empowers small businesses. The use of
recyclable materials means that his
business is environmentally responsible
and ethical. Moses purchases a small
percentage of his brass materials from
retail outlets within Nairobi; among some
of the scrap materials he uses to make cast
products are water pipes and old padlocks.
Moses has a wide product range; his cast
brass products include rings, pendants
and bangles. He also makes non-cast
products from brass sheets and wires,
and these include earrings, bracelets
and necklaces. In addition, he makes
products that combine horn, bone and
brass as well. Moses trades his products
through established local networks. He
also receives customization orders from
the international market. However, his
biggest challenge are the middlemen by
whom he often feels cheated. He hopes to
gain access to more direct markets in the
future.
MADE IN AFRICA 35
HEADLINE SPONSOR

ON A MISSION TO DELIVER ENERGY

EVERYONE CAN AFFORD
G reenlight Planet was founded by T. Patrick
Walsh, a University of Illinois student who spent
part of 2005 working with the charity Engineers
In 2016, Sun King launched the EasyBuy
programme, allowing customers to pay for
products in installments through the Angaza
Without Borders in rural India. He saw that the technology, giving millions more people the
residents, users of ubiquitous kerosene lamps, were potential to access solar energy at affordable
not charity cases. Rather, they were savvy consumers prices.
demanding a better product. He designed and sold
the first Sun King solar-lantern prototypes in 2006 With Kenya leading the charge in solar activations
in the state of Orissa: brighter and healthier than across East Africa and Nairobi acting as its hub
kerosene lamps, but affordable enough so people of innovation, Sun King decided a major office in
could purchase without subsidies. Nairobi would not only give them access to the
local market, but also local talent. To understand

S un King is a for profit social business that its customers a company needs to immerse itself
develops and manufactures honest, reliable and in their culture and the prominence of Kenyans
high quality solar products designed for people on the Sun King creative team is a pleasure to see,
living off the electric grid. joined by colleagues from India, China, the USA
and many other corners of the world.
Sun King products range from the cute and
surprisingly bright Pico up to Solar Home Systems Nairobi Design Week 2016 is proud to be
that offer 3 full ceiling lights and a rooftop solar sponsored by Sun King, a company that shares our
panel. Each product has been created through passion for changing the world by empowering
thousands of hours of observation, immersion and its citizens through excellent design, efficiently
testing to give the end user the most value and best engineered products and game-changing
quality possible. distribution strategies.

36 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 6 MILLION SUN KING LAMPS
HAVE BEEN SOLD ACROSS 54
COUNTRIES.

ENTREPRENEURS WORK LONGER,

KIDS STUDY BETTER
FAMILIES SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER
www.greenlightplanet.com

MADE IN AFRICA 37
DMU DESIGN STUDENTS
VISIT AND HUMAN CENTERED
DESIGN
I n August 2016, Nairobi Design Week hosted
six undergraduate and masters product design
students from De Montfort University, UK. Our
mission was to give them a flavour of the creative
and business opportunities that Kenya has to offer
and make them fall in love with the country. In such
a short time it’s impossible to see everything, but
were perfectly positioned to create a tailormade,
focused experience that engaged the students
throughout.
T o travel the world, experience new cultures
and make new, international friends is an
investment for a lifetime. As part of the University’s
#DMUGlobal programme, we flew from London
to Nairobi to immerse ourselves in a new culture,
with the aim of helping to design and market solar
lighting products.
We arrived in the middle of the night and after some
sleep settled into the hustle and bustle of Nairobi
life. On our first day we visited the University of
Nairobi, meeting design peers and learning about
their approach to design. Our first weekend
provided an excursion to lake Naivasha, where we
camped next to hippos, ate around a campfire and
had a perfect opportunity to familiarise ourselves
with the Sun King products that we’d spend the
week working with. After a relaxing introduction,
38 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
we
excited
were
to
kickstart our trip
and get involved in
the Nairobi design scene.
ThinkPlace provided a
great, one day workshop which
introduced us to the process of
human centered design (HCD).
Within hours we were challenged to get
out on the streets and start interviewing
people straight away both an intimidating
and enthralling experience. We learnt how
to analyse these interviews, creating unique
insights that can lead to exciting new products
or solutions.
The following days allowed us to put these skills
into practise by visiting Sun King customers
in Limuru and Machakos, talking with locals
about the products they owned and needs they
had, and learning to empathise with people
whose lifestyle was very different from ours.
Upon arrival back at the Sun King offices,
we analysed the material we had collected
and brainstormed a myriad of ways we could
better market solar products in rural areas. The
ideation session was not only great fun but it
also provided and eclectic mix of serious and
 DE MONTFORT
UNIVERSITY
AND NDW
wacky ideas. With feedback from the Sun King
team, we narrowed down to a few concepts
and developed them further with low fidelity
prototypes, presenting the results to the CMO,
Melissa Lo and her team.

T his experience was life changing for the

students. It opened their eyes to a world
outside the UK and enabled them to develop new
design methods and approaches. The links we
developed through NDW were invaluable and
over half of the group are already exploring ways
to return to Kenya and continue this work. We
will continue developing this partnership and
can’t wait to come back in 2017!

Dr Timothy Whitehead

+ =
INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
INSPIRATION
EDUCATION

MADE IN AFRICA 39
PHOTOGRAPHY BY

HUMPHREY
GATERI
@NAIROBIPHOET
H umphrey Gateri is a passionate Kenyan photographer
living in Nairobi. He comes from a family of 4, his
mother and two brothers. Humphrey worked as a freelance
photographer for NDW for most of 2015, and had a number
of projects like the Artisans of Kibera series. We caught up
with the busy photographer to interview him on how he got
into photography, and his journey from the NDW office to
his rise to stardom.

On how he got into I picked up a small digital Panasonic camera at home

and started taking photos of my friends and things
photography around me. I upgraded to a DSLR which belonged to
my friend Ricky, and whenever I got gigs, I would split

I used to be an electrical engineering student

at the University of Nairobi where I was
supported by my uncle, however, financial
hardships took a toll and I had to withdraw
from school for a while. During this “break”,
the money with Ricky. With time, I used my savings,
as well as additional funds from my brother and other
friend Ken, to buy my own SLR to take photos with.
After that, I met Adrian of NDW and started doing
freelance work for NDW2015.

What inspired your passion

for photography?
I think the passion for photography has always been
there within me, the biggest mistake I ever made
was trying to suppress that. Eventually, I picked up a
camera and found out with time that I could do more
with it. I think that’s when it all started. The people
around me also inspire me; there are a couple of
photographers whose work inspired me back then, to
take up photography seriously.

40 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016


Who is your
favorite Kenyan
photographer What is the most
and why?
SInstagram,
arah Waiswa, she goes
by @lafrohemien on biggest thing
just simply amazing. She you learned from
her work is
photography and poetry, it’s working at NDW?
likes to call herself a phoet;
a combined word. My style is
different from hers but I just
love the way she is able to tell
stories through her portraits.
Someday I’d love to tell stories
the way she does.
Feature
What are some of
the unexpected
hurdles you’ve
What camera
faced in trying to
are you sporting
become a top notch
now?
Nikon D3200 with a 50-35 photographer in
A
I think a Nikon full frame Nairobi?
and the kit 18-55 although
H
camera would work best for me. ere’s the thing, I found out that
However, I keep in mind that it most photographers are mean
is never about the gear, I think with information and with the art
one can do as much with a crop itself. I think they feel threatened so
sensor compared to a full frame they don’t necessarily want to help
sensor SLR. you become a better photographer.
Luckily, I was able to maneuver my
way and contacted a well-known
important/ photographer on Instagram. He
responded and invited me to one of
his shoots where I studied his work
and his style. Although he wasn’t one
of the easiest people to work with, I
was able to learn a lot on my own. If
you know what you want, you have
to swallow your pride and work,
I ’d say the entire experience regardless of the conditions.
opened me up to the art field
and I am thankful to NDW for Follow Humphrey on Instagram:
that. The biggest thing I learned
from that was to continuously @nairobiphoet
improve on my photography
skills.
MADE IN AFRICA 41
GADGET
THIS YEAR OUR PASSIONS
FOR DESIGN THINKING AND
ALL-THINGS TECH HAVE LED

WATCH
US TO DEVELOP A ‘RAPID
PROTOTYPING FIELD KIT’.
HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK.

ALEUTIA
S ince the birth of Aleutia`s 1st fanless pc, a fit
for purpose energy efficient fanless computer,
ready for the dry and dusty rural environments
the T1 and R50 are the result of many iterations
of design and development through the use of
materials selection, copper has infused a gorgeous
natural colour simultaneously increasing thermal
conductivity to birth a unique design. The R50 is
a small and powerful system capable of running
graphics design and 3D programs.

ULTIMAKER
IF YOU’RE NOT SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH DESIGN, YOU’RE
JUST CREATING THEM - SALEHE BEMBURY
We are seeing an inceasing number of 3D printers around
Kenya. For designers carring out fieldwork it has to be as easy
to maintain and repair, with reliable printing and excellent
build quality. The ultimaker 2 is the tool . It only takes a
couple minutes to get the machine set up and powered on.

Held together by steel bolts and framed in extremely durable

stuff called Dibond. Packaged in its flight case, we think this
could handle a matatu ride out to shags. A single click wheel
resembling the 1st gen iPod adorns the front. This combined
with the simple menu system ensures that operation is as
simple as possible. The only connectivity for transferring 3D
files is an SD card slot next to the screen.

42 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

K enyas’ first makerspace is rapidly
establishing itself as a key component
of Kenya’s Silicon Savannah. Housing an
electronics lab, 3D printers, a CNC plasma
cutter and fully kitted workshops, all your

GEAR
prototyping needs are solved locally in the
company of some of the most knowledgeable
and enthusiastic people in the business. Mark
Zuckerberg’s recent visit has only increased the
well earned hype. At Gearbox they love to build

BOX
things.“More importantly” they say, “we love to
build things together”. They achieve this most
enjoyably through community projects. For
each one, they pick a challenge based on what
interests them and their members, and what
problems they see around Nairobi that might
be solvable.
“Starting with a meetup to kick things off,
we spend one or two months designing, Community-inspired, community-funded,
prototyping, and building a solution. and community-driven, these projects teach
us a lot about how to design and build for
Nairobi.”

Their recent ‘Precious Plastic Project’ aims to

IT’S NEVER BEEN EASIER IN make recycled plastic useful around Nairobi,
and Kenya, by making interlocking bricks
KENYA TO LEARN, DESIGN, for low-cost construction and 3D printing
affordable prosthetics for children (who tend
AND BUILD ANYTHING YOU to outgrow traditionally fabricated prosthetics
far too fast). In the coming year, NDW looks
CAN IMAGINE. forward to exploring the synergies between
such projects and Kenya’s jua kali (artisan)
industry. NDW’s network gives us the ability
to make connections oversight as we keep
building and connecting Kenya’s design
community.

G earbox offers well priced training

sessions and prototyping services as well
as accepting contracting enquiries. Their
new, flexible timetable keeps them open ‘til 9
pm, even on Saturdays! You can meet them at
the NDW2016 Design Market.

Find out more about Gearbox at www.gearbox.co.ke

MADE IN AFRICA 43
HUB JUNCTION YAYA
HUB JUNCTION YAYASARIT
SARIT WESTGATE VILLAGE
WESTGATE VILLAGE + SANDSTORMKENYA.COM
+ SANDSTORMKENYA.COM
Photography Lyra Aoko Were
Photography Lyra Aoko Were
DESIGN
THINKERS
ELMAR
STROOMER
Dsign without Borders Uganda
Elmar Stroomer has a master
degree in Strategic Product Design
from TUDelft. He has led a wide
variety of product development
projects and organised
international design competitions.
He has understanding of working
in emerging economies and
bringing innovations to new
markets. Elmar has worked in
Surinam, India and Vietnam.
In 2012 he founded ACT Africa
Collect Textile Ltd in Nairobi,
Kenya, a company that collects
and recycles used textiles and
footwear. In 2014 Elmar started
his current position as Lead
Designer at Design without
Borders in Uganda.
46 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
PROJECTS AND VIEW
I
t is in the very nature of DwB’s’ work, that we
frequently find ourselves working with a wide
variety of different product segments; ranging from
mine-clearing equipment to products for learning
and training. In my view, the value of the design
contribution does not lie in the technical expertise,
but in understanding of the needs of end-users
and connecting the needs and the knowledge of
the different stakeholders, synthesising it into a
functional solution.
DwB is one of the few professional design firms
that apply HCD in humanitarian and development
collaborations, and have done so for many years.
What sets DwB apart from other actors in the field
is that we have long-term presence in the countries
we work in. In order to make sustainable changes,
we always seek to transfer knowledge about design
methodology and innovation to our partners and
we do this by immersing ourselves with the partner
and context over time. We also design with people,
involve stakeholders and target users to achieve
results that are relevant and sustainable. Instead of
dropping off products that have been created from
afar, our designers live and work in East Africa,
designing solutions that can be manufactured and
distributed locally.
SARAH
HASSANEN
ThinkPlace Kenya

PROJECTS AND VIEW

T hinkPlace Kenya uses design

thinking to tackle complex
problems in emerging markets
across Africa. Our goal is to
help non-profits, companies
and government entities
design products, services and
programmes with human needs
and wants at the centre.
At ThinkPlace, we see the
design thinking process as a
means to equalize the voices
of all stakeholders, who then
can collaboratively contribute
to the design process. Our
latest project aims to better SINCE 2013, SARAH HAS
HELPED ORGANISATIONS
understand the determinants
behind financial giving for low-

IN AFRICA FIND
income communities in Kenya.
Using design thinking as a

SOLUTIONS TO THEIR
problem-solving methodology
has gained traction in the recent
years but it also comes with it’s
own unique challenges around DEVELOPMENT SECTOR
scaling, measurement
evaluation, and building trust
and
CHALLENGES USING A
within the process. While the
power of design thinking is still HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN
being realised in the region, we
believe ThinkPlace is uniquely
APPROACH
positioned to advocate for the
need of human-centered design
in Kenya and beyond.

MADE IN AFRICA 47
FELIX
TAO
Aleutia Computers
Felix is a multicultural designer, developing
cool and unique products for communities that
need them. Well executed product design can
inject a great array of emotion within users,
stirring curiosity and encouraging engagement.
PROJECTS AND VIEW
S ince Michael Rosenberg, founder of Aleutia,
started the company’s journey with fanless
energy efficient computers, we have encountered
and observed obstacles leading us to design
solutions within the energy sector. Design
thinking has supported our organic growth by
providing us with countless insights on the value
and importance of data, increasing in parallel
with the energy needs of an ever growing global
population. It is more important than ever
to design beautiful, affordable and effective
48 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016
solutions that directly answer customer’s unspoken
needs. Our newest product draws on Aleutia’s
extensive experience of hundreds of solar computer
installations in Africa. The Solar Enabler allows
users to independently control and monitor energy
usage in their homes. Through a 7” touchscreen,
multiple AC outputs and smartphone connectivity,
it can be programmed to control a wide range of
devices throughout the home.
REVIEW:
THE SOLAR ENABLER
Intelligence that Empowers
Designed and crafted in England and drawing on
Aleutia’s experience of hundreds of solar computer
installations in Africa, the S5 is equipped with a
2G-connected Quad Core CPU and 7” touchscreen for
you to control you home. Monitor your energy usage
and turn your devices on and o, through your
smartphone. With control of 4 AC Outputs, the
SolarEnabler can be programmed to turn on your
waterpump when you have surplus energy, such as
during a weekday afternoon.
TYLER
GOODWIN
IF Ventures
Tyler is a founding partner at IF Ventures,
where he is building a venture studio that
helps global companies tackle grand challenges
through new business models.

PROJECTS AND VIEW

T yler has helped design and build 6 inclusive

business concepts in Africa and South
Asia, and is now creating IF to codify a venture
environment. Iterative concept development is
complemented by methods for advancing the policy
environment, route-to-impact, and partnership
development approach focused on building ecosystem. IF deploys this foundational structure
solutions to intractable challenges. in a way that enables designers maximize creativity
and create lasting impact.
IF works at the intersection of social objective
and core growth opportunity. For example, they
recently completed a business design project
with a Fortune 200 clientW and IDEO.org,
which aimed to create affordable household
appliances that complemented the company’s
FMCG brands, and identify a way to link FMCG IF IS NOW CREATING
consumption to financial health.
A DESIGN APPROACH
THAT OVERCOMES
IF is now creating a design approach that
overcomes limitations in deploying HCD as an

LIMITATIONS IN
inclusive business creation methodology. Grand
challenges increasingly require distributed,

DEPLOYING HCD
inter-disciplinary, and multi-sector teams to
create solutions with scale and longevity, and
HCD alone is not a complete problem-solving
method in this context.

IF takes the position that designers play key

roles in a larger creation process -- including
problem understanding, solution generation,
and product development -- and are best utilized
within an effective and efficient venture decision
 The NDW team would like to thank all our supporters who made
NDW 2016 possible.
Headline Sponsor

PARTNERS
Technology
Events

K
D
I
Makkerspace

Media
Artisans

50 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 THE PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE
PAST:
VALUE OF AN ARTISAN IN
NAIROBI
Many stories about fundis and artisans end with
‘but that’s just the way they are!’ Often referring
to poor workmanship or missed deadlines, this
is an unfortunate reputation some have built for
the informal creative community. Few of us have This is the primary reason given by artisans
taken the time to delve deeper into why this is the for their sometimes lacklustre work ethic
case. After all, it is ‘them’ who lose out in the long and practices. The second reason is lack of
run. Locally, KYM (Kazi ya Mkono, translating to knowledge. A surprising number of artisans
work done by hand) has a low income. picked up the skills they have as a means to
an end.
We are the driving force behind their nonchalant
attitude, bargaining for small discounts without Their creativity was a hobby, not nurtured
putting thought into the effort put behind it. for positive reasons, but pulled from a need
to earn in a culture that looked down on arts,
while still hypocritically craving beautiful
and well designed things. In a country that
has told millenials and generations before
them that ‘real careers’ are for the likes of
lawyers and doctors, it’s our duty to show
the population otherwise, something that
has been achieved in many countries around
the world. Kenya needs to catch up.

52 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

PRESENT :
THE POSSIBILITIES FOR
OUR ARTISANS
SANDSTORM - Made in Kenya

O ur aim is to operate at all times on firm,

ethical principles and as a company we
take our responsibilities to our employees,
and our relationships with our suppliers very
seriously.

Sandstorm Kenya’s website sums up their

philosophy perfectly. They used to make
luxury safari tents, mostly for international
markets and expatriates. Today they use the
same skills and materials to create beautiful
bags at their workshop in Karen, Nairobi. The
vision now is ‘Made in Nairobi’ for Nairobians.
We met the driving force of Sandstorm, the
formidable Mark Stephenson, and took a
tour behind scenes of the bags’ creation. After
being welcomed at the workshop entrance,
the tour began as though it was a catch up
chat. Our presence in the workshop only
interrupted work for a few seconds at a time,
by another cheerful greeting from a member
of staff, then back to business. Mark gets asked
a work related question, he answers, steps out
to get a tool, comes back and proceeds with the
Photo by Lyra Ayoko -Sandstorm Kenya
tour. This is the atmosphere throughout. The
tour provides valuable insights for businesses
working with artisans. Every process has its
designated area and is accounted for and every
artisan has their responsibility. Everything
works. Sandstorm Kenya’s journey has
enabled them to create desirable jobs for
happy, seasoned, reliable and incredibly
skilled artisans. It serves as a valuable
example for others looking to do the same. The
workshop is open to the public and welcomes
those wishing to receive a free, personal tour
of Sandstorm’s manufacturing process.

MADE IN AFRICA 53
FUTURE:
THE OPPORTUNITIES
WORKSHOP NAIROBI
The brand for the unbranded

L ocated in the heart of Nairobi’s furniture

district, Ngong road, Workshop Nairobi
brings tools, skills and business to local
craftsmen. The Workshop was created in 2015
to bring together local artisans and furniture
manufacturers to create modern, hand-crafted
furniture using locally sourced materials. It
aims to be a space for creative and collaborative
thinking, training, and designing, to develop
local talent and open new markets for Kenya’s
furniture industry.

The team behind Workshop Nairobi are tasked
with setting an example for the jua kali culture.
That being the case, it looks like the job is in
the very best hands. Collectively the workers’
experience adds up to decades of work in the
Kenyan furniture industry, with the founder
of a furniture making social enterprise, a
unoriginal designs and poor work ethics can
limits their sales. All other skills required
to be successful as an artisan are now being
questioned and the desire to improve has
been sparked.
We want to see these stories of passion being

W
skilled carpenter with over 10 years experience shared.
working in different carpentry companies,
a qualified woodworker and first aider, a
design lead and achieved scholars bringing in
research implementation, impact evaluation
and behavioural economics.

The workshop represents an opportunity for

both skilled and self taught furniture artisans, THERE IS SOMETHING DEEPLY
carpenters and forgemasters to capture
the essence of their trade. They will revise
SATISFYING IN SHAPING
and broaden the applications of their skills, SOMETHING WITH YOUR HANDS.
develop a design mentality and learn business
operations. Workshop Nairobi represents an PROPER ARTIFICING IS LIKE A
even bigger picture than better quality and SONG MADE SOLID. IT IS AN ACT
OF CREATION. - Patrick Rothfuss
more variety in Kenya’s furniture scene. It
is presenting a challenge to other artisans to
do the same. Already, artisans have seen that

54 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

BECOME AN NDW ARTISAN MEMBER
Announcing the Artisan Listing, a new part of the
Design Directory and Nairobi’s design community
online. If you want access to a worldwide network
and market then you’re in the right place.,

Please apply at
www.nairobidesignweek.com

MADE IN AFRICA 55
DESIGN
DIRECTORY
OUR MISSION IS TO GIVE AFRICAN DESIGN THE
GLOBAL EXPOSURE IT DESERVES WHILE BRINGING
THE COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER TO
COLLABORATE, LEARN AND SHARE.

The NDW Design Directory makes it easier than ever to discover and access the
services of designers and creative organisations. We are also available online at
http://www.nairobidesignweek.com/directory/

1. Aleutia 16. GoodLife 29. Open Design Cape Town

2. Amani institute 17. Honey From The Moon 30. PAWA254
3. Archidatum 18. iHub 31. Ramara
4. Artisan and Fox 19. Kenya Bamboo Centre 32. Slumfighters
5. Cave 20. Kibo International
6. Craft Africa 21. KikoRomeo 33. Soko
7. Creatives` Garage 22 Kipato Unbranded 34. Stonehouse Ltd
8. Design without Borders 23. KnownAfrique 35. 98 Crafted
9. Diana Opoti PR 24. Kounkuey Design 36. The Foundry
10. Dictum Initiative 37. Thinkplace
11. Docubox 25. Kuona Trust 38. Tosh
12. FAFA 26. KUWA 39. Unity Makers
13. GearBox 27. Ma3route
15. GoDown Arts Centre 28. Moringa School
 +44 20 3393 0842
info@aleutia.com
www.aleutia.com
@aleutia
aleutia

Aleutia has created “the computer reborn”, a fanless and energy

efficient PC to fit the African environment. The features make
it possible for the computers to survive both in dusty and hot
environments as well as in places with little access to energy as it
is optimised to work on solar power. Currently Aleutia is working
on several different education and healthcare projects that aim to
improve the life standards of the African population in rural areas.

+254 704 270 699

info@amaniinstitute.org
www.amaniinstitute.org
The Amani Institute

Amani Institute prepares the next generation talent to tackle

global challenges by filling the gap between university and
the workforce through a new approach to higher education.
Amani aims to inspire and support universities to continue
on their path adapting to the demands the 21st century is
placing on higher education to train the new professionals
and leaders the world needs to meet the global challenges we
are facing.

info@archidatum.com
www.archidatum.com
ArchiDATUM
@archiDATUM

Architecture is about setting marks. We aim at creating awareness

about Architecture in Africa and informing the world about
Architecture in its context and contribution to its society. We
envision a continent without boundaries. One where ignorance
does not hinder beautiful living spaces. That’s why day by day we
struggle to inspire the brightest minds, and every day brings us
closer to the dream.

58 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 Artisan and Fox is a social enterprise
jaron@artisanandfox.com on a mission to discover the stories
www.artisanandfox.com of hidden artisans across the globe
artisanandfox through its monthly subscription
@artisanandfox model. By collaborating directly with
artisans across Nepal, Bangladesh, the
Philippines and Kenya, Artisan and
Fox provides these hidden makers
unprecedented access to international
markets through its e-commerce
platform. Through Artisan and Fox,
consumers receive a curated box of
quality artisanal crafts every month,
alongside the story of the makers.

Cave is a young design bureau that

provides a combination of creative +254 202 717 187
services in architecture, interior, info@cave.co.ke
landscape, and furniture. We like to www.cave.co.ke
question the origin of ideas while
responding to the varying climates in
which we operate. Our design process
explores the construction of systems and
structures that complement the human
condition. A return to the limitless
curiosity of early man that investigates
how our built and natural environment
influences the way we live and work and
vice versa.

+254 717 488 565

www.craftafrika.org
Craft Afrika
@CRAFTAFRIKA Founded in 2012, Craft Afrika is a social
enterprise that identifies, creates and
supports market access opportunities
for contemporary artisan and design
products, specifically within domestic
and regional markets. They are hosts
of Afrika Handmade Symposium and
Gallery, an annual event that promotes
domestic consumption of locally made
artisanal and design products.

MADE IN AFRICA 59
 www.creativesgarage.org
Creatives.Garage
cr8vesgarage
Creatives garage is a broad-spectrum movement
for Creatives to network, share ideas, collaborate,
learn, gain market accessibility and push
boundaries. It was formed out of past frustrations
faced by its founders in the creative industry such
as lack of funding, under pricing, lack of talent
appreciation, me too-ism syndrome, education
and practical sessions, lack of networking
opportunities, undercutting and lack of exposure
lead to the realisation of creating a platform that
could address these issues.

contact@designwithoutborders.com
designwithoutborders.com
Design Without Borders

Design without Borders Uganda Limited (DwB) is

a product and service design consultancy firm in
Kampala-Uganda and is linked to Design without
Borders foundation in Oslo, Norway.
DwB employs local and international designers and
offers human centered design services to private and
public clients and partners, NGO´s and development
agencies in the East African region. We share skills
and knowledge with our clients and partners and
work with them to design scalable solutions to the
challenges they face.
Our goal is to impact local communities through
design, contributing to economic growth and solving
social problems.
We provide the following services:
Design and development of new products and
services
Re-design of existing products and services
Production and system optimization
User research and context analysis
Field testing of products and services (product
evaluation)
Design workshops

60 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 www.dianaopotipr.com
Diana Opoti PR
@DianaOpotiPR
@dianaopotipr

Diana Opoti PR is an African based communications

agency with its official base in Kenya. Unique to
the region, Diana Opoti PR provides effective and
integrated communication strategies for brands that
are looking to raise their profile and enhance their
positioning in the region.

D ictum is an African integrated

communications and public affairs firm.
We offer full service reputation management by
supplying high impact value analysis, strategy,
design and digital solutions to the continent’s
most progressive and ambitious leaders in the
public, private and social sectors. The firm
operates under five core areas which are, Dictum
Research (DR), Dictum Advisory (DA), Dictum
Strategic communications and public affairs
(DSP), Dictum Creative concepts (DCC) and
Dictum Digital solutions (DDS).

+254 724 383 000

www.mydocubox.org
Docubox
@mydocubox

DOCUBOX (EADFF) is East Africa’s only

Documentary Film Fund that offers our
growing documentary film community,
film grants as well as opportunities to learn,
exchange ideas, network internationally and
benefit from a nurturing/supportive regional
family.

MADE IN AFRICA 61
 +254 712 937 930
info@fafakenya.co.ke
www.fafakenya.co.ke
FAFA
@FAFA_KENYA

The Festival for African Fashion and Arts (FAFA) was setup
in 2008 during the post-election violence which took place in
Kenya. As many countries throughout the region continue to
know human rights abuse, civil unrest and war, FAFA aims to
change perceptions of other communities one mind at a time by
exploring and bridging cultures through fashion, art and music.

Many of Kenya’s greatest challenges –

from providing clean energy to solving 0790 406 265
the sanitation crisis – require hardware-
info@gearbox.co.ke
based solutions, but building hardware
www.gearbox.co.ke
locally is incredibly difficult. Kenya’s
designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs gearboxKE
need affordable access to quality tools, @gearboxKE
and an ecosystem of support to provide
an on-ramp to manufacturing. Gearbox
is building this ecosystem, offering
training in design, prototyping, and
manufacturing, along with low-cost
access to world class facilities, so you
can design in Africa, for Africa.

+254 726 992 200

info@thegodownartscentre.com
www.thegodownartscentre.com
GoDown Arts Centre
@GoDownArts

The GoDown Arts Centre is home to Kenyan
creativity in arts and media. The centre has
contributed significantly to the growth, recognition
and visibility of local artist collaborating with other
artists from across the globe. The godown arts
centre promotes professional development through
training workshops that are held throughout
the year while creating an environment for
innovation and collaboration between artist,
having an exhibition gallery where exhibitions
can be shown and meetings and performances
held.

62 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016 IHUB

 Email: goodlifer40@gmail.com
Website: www.ubgoodlife.com

Founded in Rwanda ‘Good Life Ltd’ is a social enterprise that aims to introduce fresh hand crafted luxury
designs to local craftspeople for sale to hotels and affluent homes in East Africa. Now based in Gigiri,
Nairobi, they employ disabled weavers based in Mombasa’s Bombolulu Workshop to make our luxury
hammocks. Their goal in 2015/16 is to provide more work for disadvantaged artisans who are currently
suffering from the downturn in the tourist market.

+254734446316
zeebaan@gmail.com
www.honeyfromthemoon.com
zeebandesign

We blend an earthy look and feel into our bags and furniture.
Love, delicacy, care and protection are the vision behind
our team’s hard work with the exemplary attention of a bee,
continually developing its process of creation. Our unique
concept called “Design your own” allows you, the customer, to
explore your own taste in a custom made product.

info@ihub.co.ke
www.ihub.co.ke
iHub
@iHub

iHub is a vibrant and collaborative workspace where entrepreneurs

and innovators can come up with ideas and develop solutions.
The aim is to provide an inspiring environment that lowers the
barriers to entry for many young would-be entrepreneurs and
to fuel an ecosystem of innovation and technology. The iHub
community includes individual developers,designers, creatives,
researchers, scientists, engineers, technologists, as well non-tech
people looking to launch startups.

MADE IN AFRICA 63
 Kenya Bamboo Centre does everything
+254 715 119 137
that has to do with bamboo. They produce
www.kenyabamboo.org
quality products such as furniture and
Kenya Bamboo Centre home accessories as well as offer training
@kenyabamboo in bamboo crafting. Kenya Bamboo Centre
is committed to improving a sustainable
environment and to promote employment
by empowering people through teaching
them technical skills in crafting. Kenya
Bamboo Centre has worked together
with several organisations to improve the
environment and support livelihood of the
poor through income generating activities.

+254 708 720 192

sales@kibo.bike
www.kibo.bike
@kiboafrica

Kibo is an innovative mobility concept that seeks to solve

the mobility gap in Kenya and other frontier markets by
improving the safety and sustainability of motorcycle
transport. The concepts consists of the K150 motorcycle,
designed in Kenya, built for Africa, as well as professional
rider training and 6 months after-sales support.

KikoRomeo can be described as

+254 733 516 317
one of East Africa’s leading fashion
yaya@kikoromeo.com labels with their pieces having
www.kikoromeo.com been worn by many celebrities.
KikoRomeo Inspired by the beauty of African
@KikoRomeoAfrica design, the founder Ann McCreath
started the company with the desire
to help create jobs in rural areas
and make unique, high quality
products for retail. KikoRomeo
is based in Nairobi, where they
produce gorgeous, ethically made
designs out of African fabrics, cut
to international fashion trends.

64 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 +254 701 407 936
kipatounbranded@gmail.com
www.kipatounbranded.com
Kipato Unbranded
@KipatoUnbranded

Kipato Unbranded sells jewellery “by everyday people, for everyday

people”. This is a social enterprise that works together with local
artists to promote their talents. Kipato Unbranded seek to empower
people from all backgrounds by giving them access to markets.
They aim to keep everything as simple as possible. By focusing on
using natural materials, such as brass, recycled bone and beads,
they create beautiful jewellery by the skills of the local talents.

“In whatever you do, always find a missing link and

info@knownafrique.com
bridge the gap”
www.knownafrique.com
Ignorance of the law = Injustice = Corruption = Poverty. KnownAfrique LLP
@knownafriqueLLP
Over 400 million Africans live in poverty. We believe
that easy access to legal information, allows people
exercise their rights, hold leaders accountable, tackle
corruption and fight poverty. KnownAfriqueLLP is
a for-profit social enterprise seeking to enhance the
African economy by bridging the gap between the
law and the people.

www.kounkuey.org
K
D
I

Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) partners

with residents of impoverished areas to
develop and implement design solutions
that improve physical, economic, and social
quality of life. They call the low-cost, high
impact environments they create Productive
Public Spaces.

MADE IN AFRICA 65
 +254 721 262326
e-mail: info@kuonatrust.org
Website: www.kuonatrust.org

Kuona Trust is a centre for supporting visual arts and works

as a platform for innovation through art and creativity. Kuona
Trust support artists with mentoring, educational programmes,
training, international exchange as well as displaying artists’
work through exhibitions. Founded by the National Museum
of Kenya, Kuona Trust seek to promote cultural exchange and
increase the role of visual arts in Kenya.

+254 722 732 499

zahra@kuwa.co.ke
www.kuwa.co.ke
KUWA
@KuwaUrbanSpaces

Kuwa’s overarching goal is to improve the lives of the urban poor by

working hand in hand with communities to develop and empower
them to address their issues and develop solutions. All proposals
incorporate participatory methods in their approach in order to
encourage, promote and advance participation to all stakeholders.
Kuwa endorses the notion that all people have a right to the city
and therefore aims to work towards urban planning.

+254 716 079 086

info@ma3route.com
www.ma3route.com
ma3route
@ma3Route

Ma3route is a mobile, web and SMS platform that helps

citizens to share and access info about transport and
current traffic conditions for their city. Ma3Route shows
how crowdsourcing transport data provides an avenue
for improved transport policy and urban development
through citizen participation.

66 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 +254 711 581484
contact@moringaschool.com
www.moringaschool.com
Moringa School
@moringaschool

At Moringa School tomorrow’s developers are being taught the

important task of coding. Seeing the high demand for talented
developers and programmers this school has taken on the
task of equipping high-potential and pro-active students with
mobile and web development skills. Students learn to code
from a world-class curriculum with top quality teachers and
mentors to support them in the process. Moringa is one of the
founding partners of Nairobi Tech Week.

info@opendesignct.com
Design is the unifying thread that links innovation,
www.opendesignct.com
education and community as the building blocks
of a sustainable, inclusive, prosperous society. The opendesignct
Open Design Cape Town Festival brings these @opendesignct
concepts together in a 12-day programme of
inspiration, discussion and discovery.

It’s a platform for showcasing ideas, sharing

experiences and building relationships. The
programme comprises a mix of mostly free events
including workshops, talks, open studios, tours,
technology demonstrations, maker workshops,
exhibitions, activations and more.

+254 721 956552

info@pawa254.org
www.pawa254.org
PAWA 254
@Pawa254 PAWA254 is the Artivism Hub, based in Nairobi, Kenya
home to some of Nairobi’s greatest Creative Industry
experts, students and enthusiasts. PAWA254 is also a
co-working space that offers workshops, trainings,
forums and events for artists who are creating for social
impact. PAWA254 empowers young professionals and
disadvantaged youth to effect social change through
new innovative projects. It is the first of its kind in
Africa.

MADE IN AFRICA 67
 +254 732 726272
info@ramara.co.ke
www.ramara.co.ke
ramara.furniture
@ItsaRAMARA

RAMARA is a design house based in Nairobi, Kenya. Founded

in 2004, RAMARA has grown with the vision of providing the
highest quality furniture and interior solutions to our clients.
Our furniture range comprises modern hardwood furniture,
all designed by our design team. Our design expertise has
received international acclaim, the most recent being a design
quest award for our Lily tables.

+31641214283
kria@studiorosa.eu
www.slumfighters.org
slumfighters

SLUMFIGHTERS international helps and empowers people in

and around slums. We develop, implement and transfer an integral
process in order to transform (in)formal settlements together
with all the (in)formal stakeholders so that the occupants get a
decent and sustainable life. We believe we should better work
together for the benefit of all of us. Therefore we develop tools
and methods to enable the bridging of the gap. And crossing it!

info@shoposoko.com
www.shopsoko.com
Soko
@Shop_Soko

Soko is an ethical women’s accessories brand producing handmade

jewelry from up-cycled materials. All our products are designed in
Kenya and produced by a network of artisan entrepreneurs across
Kibera, Dandora, Rongai, and other parts of greater Nairobi. Soko
artisans produce beautiful, on-trend products for a global consumer
base. Our jewelry is available at hundreds of boutiques in the U.S.
and Japan, and U.S. retailers such as Nordstrom and Anthropologie.

68 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 Directory

+254 725 618 357

info@stonehouse.co.ke
www.stonehouse.co.ke
Stonehouseltd

Stonehouse specialises in intermediate and appropriate technology

for the African environment. Currently they are building 47 solar
powered computer labs for the Safaricom ’47 in 1’ project, as well as
a security app called ‘Guard On’ to help night watchmen stay alert.
The company is promoting food security by bringing attention to a
precision planter designed for use by small scale farmers that reduces
fertilizer costs and increases yields for less energy and time spent.

+254 700 608 944

www.thefoundry.biz
info@thefoundry.biz
thefoundryafrica
@foundryafrica

The Foundry is a network of premiere office space and

coworking community designed to support your business
growth. With locations in Nairobi, our office includes
universal 24/7 access to beautiful custom spaces, giving
you maximum flexibility with minimum maintenance.
Our spaces focus on design + function so every element of
our environment promotes your creativity, collaboration,
and connections.

+ 254 727 580 376

info@98crafted.com Inspired by culture, we are a bespoke
furniture company driven by the desire
to commemorate design as seen by our
forefathers. Taking time to research and
understand different approaches to design
across the world’s cultures through travel,
art, history and literature, we respect every
individual’s appreciation of aesthetics. Paying
attention to detail, our designs tinker with our
conceptualized findings and combine them
with modern forms, making every piece or set
unique and the only one of its kind.

MADE IN AFRICA 69
 www.thinkplaceglobal.com
thinkplaceglobal
@ThinkPlace

ThinkPlace is a global strategic design and

innovation consultancy focused on helping
organisations develop strategies to achieve
social impact, and designing programs,
products and services that deliver on those
strategies. ThinkPlace takes a human-centered
approach and is committed to co-designing
solutions that communities, staff, stakeholders
and organisations can implement.ThinkPlace
addresses pressing social challenges by
investigating the context of the problem, deeply
understanding the experience of those affected
by it, and inviting a wide range of stakeholders
to actively participate in the process to generate
meaningful, appropriate solutions. ThinkPlace’s
methodology is iterative - ideas and solutions
are prototyped based on user insights and tested
throughout the design process, ensuring greater
sustainability in the long term. With hundreds
of projects across Africa, Asia, Australia and
New Zealand, ThinkPlace has a strong track
record in solving meaningful problems and
creating positive social change.

hello@tosh.co.ke
www.tosh.co.ke

As a designer at the intersection of design thinking and

experience design in Africa, Tosh designs with a love for User
Experience. It’s central to everything he does. He’s passionate
about simplicity, ease of use and aesthetic beauty. The scope of
his work includes strategy, interactionand visual design, as well
as prototype development.

70 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 Directory

+254 725 618 357

info@tunapanda.org
tunapandaorg
@tunapandaorg

Tunapanda Institute trains young adults in design,

technology, and business skills in the outskirts of Kibera
regardless of the person’s ability to pay. Their 3-month
intensive training programs enable young people to find good
jobs with forward-looking companies in Nairobi, engage in
creative self-expression, and even become teachers to pass
on the skills and knowledge. A non-profit organisation, they
also generate revenues doing digital work for clients.

+254 703 745630

sales@unitymakers.com
www.unitymakers.com
/UnityMakers
@UnityMakers

Founded in 2014, Unity Makers is pieces that speak both to art and function. Additionally, we shall
a bespoke furniture company in be deploying joinery techniques not yet seen on the Kenyan market
Nairobi that designs and produces while reaching out to the emerging market of young professionals
contemporary furniture. Our with high quality but affordable collection of staple pieces.
mission is to become the leading
furniture design and production
house in Kenya and the region,
identified for our contemporary
minimalist design but with
stunning detail and response
to function while delivering
first class customer care. We
produce from locally sourced
raw material, designed by our
young and talented designers
and handcrafted by experienced
technicians. At Unity Makers
we believe in sustainable timber
harvesting with minimal waste
during production. We are looking
to venture into pieces using locally
abundant materials but which are
new and unconventional to the
local furniture industry to create

MADE IN AFRICA 71
 +254732905322
vienle.photography@gmail.com
www.vienlephotography.com
vienle.photography
@vienlephotography

At Vi’enle Photography, we are a family working together to

better serve our community. For us photography is life and we’ve
come together to bring you an outstanding service. Our motto
‘capturing beauty at it’s best,’ is seen throughout our Art. We deal
in Fashion, Wedding, Events, Product and Portrait photography.
We want you to be part of our evergrowing family, so give us a call
we are friendly and lovable.

+254 701 090 529

info@whatsgoodstudios.com
www.whatsgoodstudios.com
whatsgoodstudios
@WhatsGoodStudio

We’re a multidisciplinary team of media specialists transforming

brands and consumer experiences with innovative content for local
and international markets. We are first and foremost storytellers,
with a relentless commitment to finding the very best way to tell a
story. Often called ‘Africa Whisperers’- we harness the creativity of
experienced filmmakers, writers, directors and media specialists to
create dynamic experiences that move consumers into action.

WORKSHOP NAIROBI Workshop Nairobi, located in the heart of

info@workshopnairobi.com Ngong Road furniture district , is a training
and manufacturing workshop designed
www.workshopnairobi.com
to support informal furniture makers to
WorkShop Nairobi
maximise thier business potential. We
+254 790604773 offer training which supports craftsmen
to innovate new designs, expand practical
knowledge such as joinery and finishing
techniques , as well as develop soft skills
in customer service, marketing, pricing
and small business management .We
provide access to machinery, tools and a
digital design resource center. We connect
craftsmen to new markets through online
and local sales support.

72 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 TEAM CREDITS
ADRIAN JANKOWIAK NDW Events Photography
Director Humphrey Gateri
Vi’enle Photography
RINA WALIGO
NDW Manager Published by Africa Design LLP.
November 2016.
MICHEAL BAGOROGOZA
Event and Speaker listings were correct at
Brand Manager the time of printing but may be subject to
alterations. Check directly with the venues.
FREDRICK BARY
For updates and more information visit:
Event Cordinator
www.nairobidesignweek.com
KEVIN OURU
Event Organizer

JULTIA BHAGAT
NDW assistant

DON ADERO
Volunteer

74 NAIROBI DESIGN WEEK 2016

 KIBO K150 2016 MODEL

Kibo pays for VAT.

2016 introductory price: 342,000.- incl. VAT

Now only: 295,000.-

www.kibo.bike +254 723 737 977 sales@kibo.co.ke KiboMotorcycles @kiboafrica

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Offer valid November & December 2016 Recommended Retail Price K150: 458,000.- incl VAT
Available now with All-risks insurance cover
and Free starter kit*.
Elite Digital Solutions, Sarit Centre (lower ground floor)
T +254 20 375 3500-06 | www.elitedigital.co.ke

*All-risks cover against accidental damage or loss for 1st year. Starter kit includes setup & data transfer, a case and a powerbank. TM and © 2016 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.